Backing up Pete's Feb 22, 2019 article. On Feb 23 Australia’s Defence Minister, Linda Reynolds told Parliament she is annoyed with the slow progress of negotiations with the French.Linda is referring to the troubled Attack class program in which French government owned Naval Group is being paid many $Billions.
If the Dutch are contemplating choosing Naval Group for the Netherlands' future submarine, this may be risky. Naval Group may not be the money saver expected. Naval Group may be able to make a low contract winning bid, because this being is cross-subsidized by Australia's foolishly extravagant Attack class order.
But the Dutch will also have to contend with Naval Group’s natural focus on its major French national priority - developing France’s future SSBN. Naval Group has also yet to complete “Full Operating Capability” of France’s new SSN.
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Andrew Greene, Defence Correspondent, for Australia’s government owned ABC News, Feb 24, 2021, reports (Pete is just displaying part of the submarine content):
“Government frustrations and concerns grow over Australia's multi-billion-dollar submarine...”
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has expressed "frustration" and "disappointment" with the French company building Australia's $90 billion future submarines as she prepares to confront its visiting global boss over crucial contract negotiations.
A year after Naval Group pledged to spend 60 per cent of the massive contract value on local suppliers, the company is yet to enshrine the figure in a formal deal with the Commonwealth...
Sources have said Prime Minister Scott Morrison has become increasingly worried in recent months about Defence's ability to deliver the massive projects and has relayed his concerns directly to the Department's National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise team.
Ahead of her meeting with Naval Group, Senator Reynolds has told Parliament she is annoyed with the slow progress of the negotiations with the French.
On [Feb 24, 2021], Naval Group's global chief executive, Pierre Eric Pommellet, is expected to meet with Senator Reynolds in Canberra after flying into Adelaide where he completed a mandatory two-week quarantine stint.
"I am frustrated and I'm very disappointed that Naval Group have yet been able to finalise this contract with Defence, but it will not be done at the expense of Australian jobs, and Australian industry," Senator Reynolds said on Tuesday.
"This capability is far too important for our nation to do that."
The ABC understands the Commonwealth is insisting on annual audits of Australian Industry Content (AIC) in the project to construct 12 Attack Class submarines, but the French are so far resisting....”